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Learn the essential elements of creating effective game rules, including thematic introductions, game overviews, component lists, setup instructions, gameplay details, and optional extras. Discover how to engage players and enhance their gaming experience.
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Now What?Rules and Publishing Christina Wodtke 377g | Serious Games
Rules From https://www.theindiegamereport.com/category/feature/rulebook-cookbook/
The Ingrediants • Thematic Introduction • Game Overview • Component List • Setup • Gameplay • End Game • Optional Extras
Thematic Introduction • Tell the story of the game • Describe the setting: Who, What, Where, When, Why? • Use exciting, compelling language • Do NOT use game terminology
5 W’s • Who are we? The cliche phrase, “You take on the role of…” exists for a reason. It gives the players a perspective from which they can view the game. • What will we do? Think of what happens over the course of a turn or a game and summarize. Remember this is from a purely story-based perspective. You’re not moving meeples, you’re sending workers to the fields. You’re not collecting resource cubes, you’re harvesting grain and lumber. • When and where does it happen? Many games are set in ambiguous times or places, “the far future” or “a fantasy kingdom.” While these are perhaps the least important Ws, when appropriate consider providing specific details to enhance the setting. A game set in the seventh year of Kanng’s dynasty on the planet Ceto may be more interesting than a generic, unnamed planet. • Why? Perhaps most importantly, what is our motivation? Epic games deserve epic conditions. The fate of the universe rests on your shoulders! More subdued games can have more humble goals. Please the sultan, and you could be his new vizier.
Game Overview • Outline the flow of the game at a high level • Very briefly and generally tell the structure of gameplay and what happens on a turn • Define the objective, how to win, and what triggers the end of the game • Do NOT describe details, fringe cases, or minor exceptions
Component list • Give complete, detailed, and specific inventory with quantities • Ideally, include pictures of all components • Either here or at the start of Gameplay, define component terminology and general usage (diagrams help) • Do NOT include rule details
Set Up • Separate one-time setup from every time • Show exactly what to put where • Tell exactly what to give to each player • Be explicit; remember sorting and shuffling • Include all actions required before standard play, including choosing the first player • Do NOT include any recurring actions
End Game • Tell what triggers the end of the game • Explain who plays how many more times before the actual end • Detail all sources of points in a logical order • Include tie-breakers, so there is always a winner • Do NOT tell players to “rejoice in their shared victory”
